Lions Club all-star game needs overtime

A layup by Meridian's Joshua Jones turned out to be the last basket as the Purple team beat the Gold, 125-123 in overtime, Friday night in the Lions Club All-Star Classic

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By Justin Walker

The Daily Register - Harrisburg, IL

By Justin Walker

Posted Apr. 1, 2013 at 2:38 PM

By Justin Walker
Posted Apr. 1, 2013 at 2:38 PM

INA -- A layup by Meridian's Joshua Jones turned out to be the last basket as the Purple team beat the Gold, 125-123 in overtime, Friday night in the Lions Club All-Star Classic boys basketball game at Rend Lake College.

Jones took a long pass from Gallatin County's Andrew Drone, who rebounded a missed free throw by Okawville's Jeremy Weeke, for the winning basket.

Marion's Jawan Tucker, playing for the Gold squad, had a 3-point attempt over a leaping Drone rim off at the other end that would have won it.

Drone, a 6-foot-11 center headed to Rice University, scored 22 points and was named Co-MVP along with Massac County's Daz Nickerson, who hit four 3-pointers and added 20 points.

Marion teammates Malik Stuckey, Gabe Murphy and Tucker played together along with Johnston City's Austin McPheron in the first half and all scored to help the Gold take a 34-21 lead.

Another unit for the Gold included Goreville's Dayton Tripp and J.T. Russell playing along with Carterville's Tyler Horn and they helped maintain a 55-43 lead, although West Frankfort's Trenton Easley put in a pair of nice layups for the Purple in that stretch.

Herrin's Justin Lukens led a charge by the Purple squad before halftime as they pulled to within five points at the break, 66-61.

McPheron won the 3-point contest at halftime by making 10 of his 15 shots, edging out Russell and Easley who both made nine.

The second half was close throughout.

The Purple seemed to have it wrapped up when Nickerson hit a trey with 50 seconds left to makei t 113-107, but Nashville's Scott Brown made two bombs of his own to tie it and Nickerson missed at the buzzer to force an extra four minutes.

Weeke converted a three-point play to put the Gold up 123-115 with 2:07 left in overtime. Nickerson and Lukens answered with 3-pointers and Nickerson tied it by making two free throws with 25 seconds left after Carlyle's Cody Huels missed a bonus chance.

With it tied at 123, the Purple team fouled Weeke and his bonus miss led to the Jones layup that ultimately won it after Tucker's trey attempt bounced off.

Lukens finished with 13 points for the Purple, while Tucker had 11 for the Gold squad.